My Courses
Theory and practice of pastoral care and counseling within a Lutheran and ecumenical context. Integration of biblical, theological, liturgical, spiritual, and psychological perspectives and resources. Attention to pastoral care and brief pastoral counseling of individual children and adults, couples, and families; personal and faith development; family systems and family of origin theory. Role-playing, cases, films, lectures, small groups, etc.
Jesus said, "I have come that you may
have life, and have it abundantly." Yet the beliefs of
Christians can abuse children and kill the human spirit. In this
course we will critically examine Christian notions about such
issues as human nature, sin, authority, discipline, self-denial,
nudity, and sexuality and the Biblical texts cited in support of
those notions. Students will be invited to identify and explore the
anxiety, pain, and injury they have experienced because of Christian
doctrines and beliefs taught in their churches and families of
origin. They will construct ways to describe, preach, and teach a
Christian faith that does not kill or maim, a faith that offers
health and wholeness.
Theological and psycho-social exploration of
human sexuality as intrinsic to the divine-human connection and as
one of the great arenas for celebrating the Source of Life, with
implications for our understandings of major teachings about God,
human nature, sin, salvation, history, and eschatology. While
sex is commonly affirmed as God's good creation, many religious
people still learn to fear, despise, trivialize, and be ashamed of
their bodies and their sexual functions. This course will
address the relationship of sex and religion, biblical and
historical development of Christian views of sex, attitudes toward
the body and sexual shame, alternative sexualities, sexual
disorders, dysfunctions, and abuse. Development of personal
sexual credo and strategies to foster wholesome embrace of sexuality
as a core element of human identity.
Lectures/discussions/small groups/movies. Students required to
use internet resources and discussion group accessible online on the
World Wide Web. [Faculty permission required / Sig. on Reg. Card]
Healing
Religion's Harm
Gary Pence, Ph.D.
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